Security guard hit by getaway vehicle

A brave security guard suffered a fractured skull after he tried to stop a man who had grabbed a woman's handbag outside a Northampton supermarket.

Dan Elliott, aged 28, who works at the Morrison's store in Kettering Road, chased the mugger out onto the street after he witnessed the robbery at about 7.55pm on Wednesday.

But he was involved in a collision with a silver Honda, which was used as a getaway vehicle by the man, as it drove off along the road.

Mr Elliott is currently in a stable condition in Northampton General Hospital after receiving treatment for a fractured skull. The 43-year-old female victim also sustained minor injuries to her arm.

Morrison's store manager, Russell Clements, said: "It is always a shock when something like this happens to one of your work colleagues. All the members of staff are treated as a team so they are all very shocked that someone has been seriously injured.

"Everyone from the store is thinking about him at this time and lots of customers have been coming up to me, asking me how he is."

The male offender is described as aged 30 to 35, of stocky build and about 6ft. Police believe that a woman, about 5ft 3in, of medium build with short dark hair, was also in the car.

Det Sgt Gan Thayanithy said: "These types of incidents are very rare in Northampton and we want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to bring the offenders to justice.

"Anyone who saw anything at this location on Wednesday night should get in touch with us as soon as possible."